Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-23

SOlulcTS uSuUiuS III UcoCCi CduoO'
But the story told by Rev. DR.. Fisher
at his lecture last Monday evening re-
ferred to transaction which | think
has never been fully related, and as |
have recently come into possession OF
the full particulars of that story | will
devote the remainder of this letter to
putting it on record for the benefit OF
the future historian, and also for the
instruction of those statesmen who hold
that the right of suffrage should never
be given except to those who can WELD
the bayonet.
The incident occurred IN the fall of
1855 during what is known as the Wa
karusa war, or the first siege OF Law
renee.
How this war was brought on, must
be told in another letter. But it was
on, and Lawrence was surrounded and
besieged by an army of Missourians
under command of Gen. W. z. Rich
ardson. The free state men of the
neighboring settlements had rallied for
the defence, and had organized by
choosing Charles Robinson Commander
in-chief and James H. Lane, Brigadier
General. Lane had distinguished him
self highly in the Mexican war, but the
people were distrustful of him on &C
count of his political antecedents and
supposed rashness; and hence placed
the chief command in the hands of
Gov. Robinson, who though making no
pretences to military skill had shown
himself in California and in Kansas, as
a man of remarkable GOODNESS and dis
erection The free state forces were
regularly enrolled by companies and
regiments and were we'll drilled by Lane
and others, but there was one very
grave difficulty, and that was that they
were almost absolutely destitute OF
ammunition, and had reason to expect
an attack from the enemy at any mo-
ment. 1t was then that brave woman
came to the front in the person OF Mrs.
Lois H. Brown, who remembered that
her father, Salem Gleason, had broug hit
a keg of powder with him when he
moved into the country from Iowa.
Mr.. Gleason had settled on claim at
place known as Mud Springs, on the
old Santa Fe wagon trail, about ten
miles south of Lawrence. Mrs. Brown
proposed to Gen. Lane that if he would
furnish her with team and buggy she
would 20 out to her father S and bring
in that key of powder. About the
same time Capt. James E. Stewart, an
Englishman, and Methodist preacher
by profession, came to Gen. Lane with
the information that he had a consider
able quantity of ammunition at his house
about five miles south and a little east
of the city. He proposed to take a
company of some 20 men and make a
dash through the enemies lines to bring
in the ammunition so absolutely necessa-
ry. Stewart was as brave as Marshal
Ney or King Murat, but Gen. Lane
dissuaded him from making the attempt
and informed him of the offer of Mrs.
Brown. The next morning Mrs. Brown
and Mrs. S. N. Wood, who had agreed
to accompany her, rode out OF town,
heading south, and we're promptly halted
by the Border Rufian pickets. Their
buggy was carefully searched but OF
course nothing contraband discovered.
The ladies had taken some sewing and
knitting work, also some medical books
and medicines. They represented that
they were going into the country to
spend the day with sick friend and
after some insults they were permitted
to pass.
They arrived at Mr.. Gleasou's house
before noon, rested and got good
dinner then prepared for their return.
Bustles had rather gone out of fashion
before that time, but there was special
reason for wearing them that day, and
so two pillow cases were made to serve
in that capacity, being first filled with
the precious powder for stuAing. the
pillow cases were first carefully ar.
ranged around the waists of the two
ladies, and then they set out for home,
by way Of Captain Stewart S. There
they filled in more powder, swelling
the bustIes to the largest extent admis-
sible: took large quantity of percus-
sion caps and constructed some elegant
"breast-works," the like of which nc
soldier in the war of the revolution
from Bunker Hill to Yorktown, ever
fought behind. They arranged bars Of
lead by setting them up cndwise in
their stockings SO as to pass as false
calyes, and thus loaded down with
powder, lead and caps, with some
needed assistance, they were again
seated in their buggy, and with some
misgivings about passing the hostile
lines they started for homso. Luckily
for them and their precious freight
they fell into the hands of more
gentlemanly set of pickets than those
who inspected them in the morning,
and although the buggy was again
searched, they were treated respect
fully and permitted to pass the line
and go home with but little delay.
How warmly they were welcomed home
again by the inhabitants of the belea.
guered little city, it is easier to imagine
than to describe. The Free State boys
were jubilant for they now had the indis-
pensible means of making good their de-
Tense, and we may add that as there